1. Flail chest: Monitor pulse oximetry and blood gases, intubate and ventilate if there is hypoxia or respiratory distress. Consider early intubation in elderly or severe multitrauma patients. 2. Open, sucking/blowing wound in the chest wall: Do not suture or pack before thoracostomy tube insertion. Danger of tension pneumothorax! A Square gauze taped on only 3 sides can be applied while preparing for chest tube insertion. 3. Tension pneumothorax: Initial decompression with needle insertion through the
Platelets should be transfused at a rate of 10 milliliters per minute for approximately 30 minutes, explains the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan Health System.
Infuse Platelets as Slowly as Medically Necessary. Bacterial contamination of platelet products is a serious risk of transfusion. Common nursing transfusion practice today is to infuse platelet products within an hour from start time. There is no scientific evidence supporting this practice. Nurses have long been advised by Laboratorians and blood bankers to transfuse platelets âas rapidly as toleratedâ by the patient.